december, not eight february, and seeing two dates, this is the 8th of december prime minister s questions were talking about, in this matters because boris johnson were talking about, in this matters because borisjohnson did take a section of his opening statement in prime minister s questions out, so he did not refer to all rules and guidance been followed but did say it later in prime minister s questions in response to an answer, a question from a labour mp. that s something the committee will ask about, whether that was correct, whether the stock should have been corrected a lot earlier, and i want to go to another bet, which is a bit punchier, a bit easier to read, on page 66. this is the evidence of simon case, cabinet secretary, the most senior civil servant in the country, about what he told boris johnson when it came to advice about what had gone on in downing street, arejust some simple what had gone on in downing street, are just some simple questions from sue gray, it appe
evidence that borisjohnson released yesterday, what are your thoughts and what is the reaction you are sensing from the conservative party to that? we will taunt, would there be a smoking gun? there really isn t, it is what borisjohnson has been saying throughout, hairsplitting about whether or not the committee is meant to be investigating the rules are the guidance for the law, and claims his behaviour broke the part that is not illegal, but not the part that is illegal. attempts to disparage the process, i do not think it is going to change many people s mind either way, ultimately, the problem for the prime minister, we have the photographs of the gatherings, he did not really admit to that until the photographs came out, and there is a gulf between those pictures and what they represent versus what people were going through all over the nation at the time. and his explanation. maybe he didn t,
over it, and this afternoon what you will see is them putting what they think are the key elements to boris johnson and saying we have got this evidence from simon case that says he did not tell you no parties were held or that all the guidance and covid rules were followed. is that right? who did tell you? that is probably a line of question we will see this after in. taste probably a line of question we will see this after in. see this after in. we will let you read more see this after in. we will let you read more and see this after in. we will let you read more and then see this after in. we will let you read more and then probably i see this after in. we will let you i read more and then probably come back to you. a bit of a westminster team in the bbc newsroom having a look to help you through the details there. thank you for now. inflation unexpectedly increased last month after three consecutive months of easing. the ratejumped to 10.4% in the year to february. that s up
our political correspondent, nick eardley, joins us from westminster. we are expecting an afternoon here of political theatre, but there are really serious question is at stake here, and there are a really serious question is at stake here, and there are here, and there are a yes, fundamentally here, and there are a yes, fundamentally whether . here, and there are a yes, i fundamentally whether boris here, and there are a 7 fundamentally whether boris johnson misled parliament, ithink fundamentally whether boris johnson misled parliament, i think we know the answer to that, he has admitted the answer to that, he has admitted the comments he made misled parliament, and then the question is why today was it an accident and that he was talking from a genuine belief the rules had not been broken, he said for example that his aides had assured him that was the case, that will be his defence. there is a question about whether borisjohnson should have known more and should have been more
a key question for mps is whether mrjohnson later corrected himself after he was fined by police. it did not occur to me then, or subsequently, that a gathering in the cabinet room just before a vital meeting on covid strategy could amount to a breach of the rules. ..and once the senior civil servant sue gray s report had found a failure of leadership. i m happy to set on the record now that when i said i came to this house and said in all sincerity that the rules and guidance had been followed at all times, it was what i believed to be true. borisjohnson claims he relied on the advice of his aides, questions the methods of mps investigating him and says he can t see why he received a fine. mps will later test that defence, as they question a former prime minister on the saga that played a part in his downfall. jonathan blake, bbc news.